Mission, Vision, and 2024 Annual Report

The Maine Inside Out board, staff, and Lewiston leadership group are working on MIO’s next strategic phase and we are thrilled to share our mission statement and vision with you. 

This process began last summer with an internal and external stakeholder assessment. The assessment considered MIO’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities as well as feedback from partners, donors, and community members about our impacts and areas for improvement. Over 70 people responded to the survey. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to give us your feedback and insight. 

The assessment was led by Firebrand Cooperative and since then we have been working with their steadfast support to craft an updated mission, vision, and three-year strategic plan. Recently we have also been supported by The Bridgespan Group, in partnership with the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, to work on our strategy, including our theory of change model. We’ll have more to share soon about our big picture impact and the three-year strategy. 

This strategic work is being done in the midst of tremendous ongoing programmatic work. Please check out our 2024 Annual Report - our first one ever - for highlights of our impact last year and reflections on the context we are working in. Deep appreciation for the MIO board, staff, and community who have participated in this work on top of all the workshops, performances, community gatherings, events, advocacy, peer support, and coordination we are doing on a daily basis. This short film gives insight into the impact of our work in 2024, including projects with youth artists at King Middle School, with incarcerated artists at Mountain View Correctional Facility, and with our many community partners for Lewiston's Juneteenth festival.

Mission

Maine Inside Out ignites collective creativity and inspires social action by engaging youth and adults impacted by systemic oppression to create and share original theater.

Vision

Maine Inside Out envisions communities and systems that see each person’s humanity, our shared connection, and our place in the natural world. Our vision is to transform a culture of punishment and isolation to one that thrives in connection, dignity, and accountability. 

Values

Maine Inside Out’s values are trust, consistency, creativity, connection, love and purpose.